“Stuck Around St Petersburg” – Artwork by Simon Adams

Can two disparate groups band together to successfully thwart a common enemy? Or is that enemy too powerful – too ruthless – too determined – to be stopped?

Part 5 of 5 of Episode 8: The Revolt. Hear this episode in its entirety by following link to paid download.

Panic strikes the Dwellers. The boys have come down charging from the mountain – horror, horror on the horizon. Fire rains from the sky. And all that stands between the scraps of society and annihilation is one determined young girl behind the sights of an aircraft cannon.

Part 4 of 5 of Episode 8: The Revolt. Hear this episode in its entirety by following link to paid download.

Paul and his angels spill into the streets of the Republic, bearing arms and determined to destroy the Citadel – the source of electricity for the city. Meanwhile, Saul, the master of the shadows, has his own designs. The stage is set for a mighty war, and no one will be unscathed in its wake.

Part 3 of 5 of Episode 8: The Revolt. Hear this episode in its entirety by following link to paid download.

But a shadow lurks behind this puppetmaster, and even as Richard watches his greatest plans unfold, our heroes and heroines must unite if they are to survive the Republic’s strike.

Part 2 of 4 of Episode 8: The Revolt. Hear this episode in its entirety by following link to paid download.

“The Field” – Cleansed episode artwork by Simon Adams

The stage has been set for an incredible battle. John Prophet is locked up, awaiting his fate at the hands of the Dwellers’ justice. Their “BOL” in rural Maine seems far, far away from the troubles afflicting old New York, but this feeling of safety is about to be annihilated. Because in an open field, as a band plays fiddle and Marc and Luke watch the stars, a darker shape looms on the horizon…

Part 1 of 4 of Episode 8: The Revolt. Hear this episode in its entirety by following link to paid download.

One of John’s surviving Rebels comes to Saul, offering a secret. Saul, intrigued, learns a bit more… and protects what needs protecting. The stage is set for a great battle.

Part 4 of 4 of Episode 7: The Trial. Hear this episode in its entirety by following link to paid download.

“The Verdict” – Cleansed artwork by Simon Adams

Part 3 of 4 of Episode 7: The Trial. Hear this episode in its entirety by following link to paid download.

Part 2 of 4 of Episode 7: The Trial. Hear this episode in its entirety by following link to paid download.

“Mushroom Walk” – The Cleansed episode art by Simon Adams

With horrors behind them and uncertainty ahead of them, Luke and Maria must come to terms — the road without each other is too frightening. Meanwhile, they have a new friend, one of the Dwellers who shows them beneath the surface of a world that has existed nearby to them their whole lives that they’ve never seen.

While the youths bond, Prophet is dragged before the Dwellers and Refuge alike to confront his actions. Prophet makes one last plea, telling the story of his battles with the Republic and the dangers that confront everyone and makes a poignant case: do these angered tribes unite against a common enemy, or destroy the man who has wronged so many to get this far?

Part 1 of 4 of Episode 7: The Trial. Hear this episode in its entirety by following link to paid download.

“Lynch the Man” – The Cleansed Artwork by Simon Adams

Prophet’s men have been lost without their leader. Saul appeared to have the most noble of intentions when taking them in, but unease is setting in. Saul’s men are brutish. Cruel. And Saul himself? There is a gleam in his eye. A spring in his step. And sharp, sharp teeth when he smiles. This week, we learn the nature of the dark man.

Part 5 of 5 of Episode 6: The Dwellers. Hear this episode in its entirety by following link to paid download.

“The Healing of Prophet” – Cleansed artwork by Simon Adams

Caitlin, healer and matriarch for the Dwellers, has taken the case of John Prophet to heart.  The rasping, winded, infected man is at death’s door, and Maria and Sam stand outside it, listening.  As they wait, the past comes out to haunt them all in a way they never expected

MAJOR SPOILER revealed in this episode.  Do not listen before you’ve heard the rest of the series!

Part 4 of 5 of Episode 6: The Dwellers. Hear this episode in its entirety by following link to paid download.

“The Angels” – Artwork by Simon Adams

Ever since the dramatic performance in the Chapel, Lucian’s world has been a little inside-out.  Amos mysteriously disappeared during the service, and now, the righteous come up to his ear whispering of dark times to come.  Will Lucian stand up to serve Jesus – and the man who claims to be his voice – or risk being left behind in the coming holy war?

Part 3 of 5 of Episode 6: The Dwellers. Hear this episode in its entirety by following link to paid download.

Part 2 of 4 of Episode 6: The Dwellers. Hear this episode in its entirety by following link to paid download.

“Clash of Cultures” – The Cleansed Episode Art by Simon Adams

Rage burns in David’s blood, as hot and incendiary as the coals which lit the crops of The Refuge into a blaze that may leave his people hungry as the brutal winter comes on. As David and his buddy Chris careen on the biodiesel powered ATV “Moby,” Sam, John and the youths land on shore nearby, and realize that a terrible and preventable tragedy is coming on.

Part 1 of 4 of Episode 6: The Dwellers. Hear this episode in its entirety by following link to paid download.

“The Real Thing” – Artwork by Simon Adams

While wheels start grinding towards Saul’s next move, Lucian meets a strange group of “Angels” and our party from the Refuge lands at the outskirts of the Dwellers, where a great conflict is coming.

Art by Simon Adams

Amos and Lucian arrive at the home of the Believers  - a group of evangelical survivalists who seem just a little too friendly.  But after being fed and welcomed with open arms, they step into the Chapel.  It is there, that one is Cleansed.

Artwork by Simon Adams

Amos wakes on a train after a night of grim dreams, but his nightmares aren’t over – he is far from his home, on a train headed to the home of a religious group called the Believers. Lucian is at his side for the journey, and Paul assures them that everything is going to be just fine. There is bread and honey in the land of the Believers. But why are their arms so wide open in a world where basic decency can mean your death?

Part 2 of 4 of Episode 5: The Believers

Artwork by Simon Adams

Part 1 of 4 of Episode 5: The Believers

With this small bit of breathing room, I’ll take the opportunity to speak a bit about the journey thus far and what’s in store. There are three more episodes to go before Season 1′s finale in October. The eight scripts for Season 2 sit on my desk, and the stars are beginning to align for another fall production season.

UPDATE: Here is a bonus piece of artwork, a 5th scene from Episode 4, where we see Lucian defending Paul as he confronts the Republic guards in the Soup:

“Battle in the Soup” – Artwork by Simon Adams

Thank you for your support thus far of this epic labor of love. While I know where the story is going – indeed, the end is written in its beginning – in other ways I’ve been making it up as we go along.

If you pay for downloads, thank you for your direct support. If you’re into the podcast, thank you for listening. If you’ve been sharing with your friends, thank you for being the primary way this work is reaching new people.

The world of The Cleansed is a frightening place. It depicts the harrowing consequences of failing to end the cycle of violence present in today’s world. It depicts – at skant – the consequences of an environment that turns on its inhabitants, of blind belief in so-called saviors, of letting the things good and right about society fall by the wayside so that monsters can take root.

It is also a hero’s journey – of three heroes – Luke, Maria, and (just introduced in Episode 4) Marc. In Season 1, we experience the mad mad world these children are born into. In Season 2, we will learn more about their journey, and fully feel the stakes in play, and the scale of the forces against them. There will be love, loss, and encounters with the miraculous. The best indeed, is yet to come.

Please – loving it, hating, confused, or bedazzled – send us your feedback. I can be reached directly fred [at] finalrune.com or use the contact form on this website. This is absolutely the most ambitious creative project I have ever worked on in my life, and I am so thrilled you are on this journey with me.

Yours in audio,

Fred Greenhalgh
Director/Writer/Producer, The Cleansed

Artwork by Simon Adams

The horror of Tully’s barn not far behind her, Maria wakes with a start in a truck somewhere in the lot of the ‘doomsday fortress’ out in the backyard. It’s a new day, but the horror of the night before lingers close, and as John snoozes, Maria can’t help but take one more look inside. What secrets did Tully keep?

In the soup, the echoes of Paul’s attack resonate. To make amends for how things went wrong, Zeke offers up to Saul one small little secret.

Artwork by Simon Adams

Meanwhile, in the sewers, Paul, Lucian, and Amos find the hidden treasure they’re looking for… Just as other, darker forces arrive looking for the same thing.

Part 3 of 4 of our feature length Episode 4: The Pig Man.

Part 2 of 4 of our feature length Episode 4: The Pig Man.

Episode art by Simon Adams

Part 1 of 4 of Episode 4: The Pig Man.

Vengeance is felt in the ragged lands of the Republic, too, where Lucian is pushed to his point of breaking.  This meek man proves that he’s still fierce beneath the surface.

Part 4 of 4 of our feature length Episode 3: The Road.

A portion of our feature length Episode 3: The Road.

Part 2 of 4 of our feature length Episode 3: The Road.

“The Fire” – Artwork by Simon Adams

Dawn is a dim glow on the horizon of the Refuge when savage cries echo from the horizon. Moments later, the chalky rain-starved land turns into an inferno that David and his motley survivors must stop at all costs. Further down the river, Prophet collapses into a heap and Luke runs off looking for help. As Prophet flits in and out of consciousness, he pushes Maria to make a decision that will change the path of everything to come.

In the Republic, the fanfare of C-Day is over and Lucian, ever the loyal worker, heads back down for another day at the slag pits… But something’s not right. Saul plays a dangerous game, charming the Republic’s High Council and eeking secrets from the young boy Zeke.

Part 4 of 4 of feature length Episode 1: The Refuge

Art by Simon Adams

Maria and Luke have grown up knowing only the austerity of The Refuge. With John Prophet suddenly crashing into their lives, what will they make of this mysterious stranger and the storm of danger that surrounds him?

Part 3 of 4 of feature length Episode 1: The Refuge

Art by Simon Adams

Link to full page with Cast & Crew Credits

“The Escape” – Artwork penned by Simon Adams

But John Prophet’s luck has about run out. Even as he attempts one more daring action, enemy soldiers crowd down around him. He is forced to make a difficult decision in a train station. And then, he sets his feet northward, and comes crashing in like a lightning storm to the bucolic life David and Sam have forged in The Refuge.

Maria and Luke have grown up knowing only the austerity of The Refuge. What will they make of this mysterious stranger and the storm of danger that surrounds him?

Link to full page with Cast & Crew Credits

“The Breaking” – Artwork by Simon Adams

And then things really start to get bad.

In the prologue to The Cleansed, Bangor, Maine becomes the epicenter of the apocalypse. John Prophet, a returning soldier from the War in Saudi Arabia, takes up arms against a raving madman. Sam Miller follows close behind, until she’s called in to help a National Guard sergeant – David – who is in way over his head. In a trailer down in Cape Hart, events are unfolding that will change Luke’s life forever.

Listen to The Cleansed, Episode Zero

This one’s on the house!

Credits:

• Written, directed and produced by Fred Greenhalgh
• Executive producer: William Dufris
• Richard Fish as Comeau
• Bobby Russell as himself
• William Dufris as Stephen King and Murray
• Rylee Ann Doiron as Jenny
• Philip Hobby as Jake
• Christopher Price as Kurt
• Dave Marshall as Rebel
• Paul Drinan as John Prophet
• Kym Dakin as Sam
• Chris Newcomb as David
• Burke Brimmer as Chris
• Ben Myshrall as Kid
• Lisa Muller-Jones as Sarah
• Pope Brock as Man and Rebel 2
• Brent Askari as Sawyer and Mike
• Rebecca Myshrall as Luke
• Dave LaGraffe as Lee
• Sound recordists: Randall Farr and Jodd Bowles
• Production Assistance: Katie Freddoso

Mixed and Mastered by Mind’s Eye Productions. Recorded on location at the Biddeford Airport in Biddeford Maine and other locations in Southern Maine. Additional sound effects courtesy of Mind’s Eye Productions and SoundDogs.com.

Music: Bad-ass rock tunes “Sailing” and “Walking Dead” by The Big Coffin Hunters, groovy funky jazz tune recorded and produced by University of Maine Augusta Audio program, and cover of “Run Through the Jungle” courtesy of Gringoman, lyrics licensed through Limelight.

Special thanks to:

• Stephen King and his rock and roll radio station, WKIT 100.3
• The City of Biddeford
• Tom Lopez of ZBS
• Rich Fish
• Amy Titcomb and Yawft Yummies LLC
• KC Wayland (Wayland Productions)
• The Dead Ford Trading Post
• William Dufris
• Anthony Marino
• You, our listener